Automobile foot-pedal safety control



July 11, 1950 \7. POMERNACKI AUTOMOBILE FOOT-PEDAL SAFETY CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 9, 1947 Va/er 2 1x19 Ufa 02mg a as P0222 J y 1950 v. POMERNACKI AUTOMOBILE FOOT-PEDAL SAFETY CONTROL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 9, 1947 INVENTOR.

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4% 1:49 affrflgy Patented July 11, 1950 UNITED STATES} PATENT OFFICE AUTOMOBILE FOOTJEDAL SAFETY CONTROL Valerius Pomernacki, Chicago, Ill. Application January 9, 1947, Serial No. 721,047

'2 Claims. (Cl. 74-562) This invention relates to safety means. More particularly, it relates to a foot-pedal control, such as an automobile foot-pedal safety control. This invention relates to certain new and simplified improvements to fit foot pedals in various makes of cars, for safety control, to guide the feet into proper position on the brake and clutch pedals by which the automobile is controlled, to simplify driving and minimize acci dents. l Everyone is familiar with the toll that automobile accidents take. It is generally believed that a substantial percentage of this toll is caused by mistakes due to the excitement of the driver. For example, in such excitement, when he intends to put his foot on the brake, it may The object of my invention is to place an.

improved device on the pedal or pedals, so that by limiting contact with the drivers foot, the 'autoist will instinctively know that his foot is on the proper pedal, and will not slip off ofit, and so that he will also know almost instinctively that his foot is on the proper pedal, and not on the gas pedal.

I have shown various forms of the device of my invention, some for various floor-board arrangements; etc.

Another object of my invention is to provide insurance of stopping the car,'whether the foot slips off the side of the pedal or off the bottom of the pedal.

Another object of my invention is to return the pedal promptly to its normal position, ready for instant re-operation.

The device of my present invention is either an alternative or an improvement over the devices shown in my previous patents, to wit: Patent No. 2,163,963, issued June 27, 1939; Patent No. 2,167,959, issued Aug. 1, 1939; Patent No. 2,225,- 423, issued Dec. 1'7, 1940, and Patent No. 2,217,233, issued Oct. 8, 1940, the Pat. No. 2,217,233 being issued on a divisional application of the file on the subject matter of the application for Pat. No. 2,225,423.

Other objects and advantages will appear and be brought out more fully in the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying-drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my device shownapplied to a floor board.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical detail section.

Fig. 4 is a detail section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective.

With reference to the second form, I have shown in Fig. 6 an elevation view of the same.

Fig. 7 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical detail section.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of the spring.

Fig. 10 is a top view of one of the elements.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of another modification.

Fig. 12 is a fourth modification, which is ad- ,iustable.

Fig. 13 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 14 is a detail section on the line Ill4 of Fig. 13.

I Fig. 15 is an elevation showing the adjustable elements separated.

Fig 16 is a view of the pedal cap.

Fig. 17 is an enlarged vertical detail section of the fourth modified form.

Referring to the drawings in detail, I have shown my device in position in connection with a. common floor-board of an automobile. I have shown a floor-board l8 and a fire wall 19.

I have also shown the usual brake-rod 20, which extends through an opening 2| in the firewall l9.

Mounted on the rod 21 is the pedal 22. Adapted to be supported on the pedal, is a pedalcap 23, by means of screws 24.

Adapted to be supported in turn by the pedal cap is a cover 25, which may be made of rubber or other suitable material.

Secured also to the cap, is a bracket 26, having side walls 21 and a cross-piece 28. The side walls 21 are adapted to be secured to the cap by means of screws or welding, etc.

On one leg 21, I have a guide 29, which may be integrally formed.

As is well-known heretofore, a great many accidents have been due to the fact that when drivers have attempted to press their feet on the brake pedal to bring their car to a stop, they have missed it and have many times put their foot on the gas pedal by mistake. This most importantly and perhaps most frequently happens in an emergency. It is not necessary here to emphasize the importance of placing the foot on the brake pedal, especially in an emergency, nor the danger inherent in not doing so; nor the consequences to life and property if such is done.

My device practically makes the operation of.

the brake fool-proof.

Adapted to be secured to the bracket, .isazpedal extension 30, having flanges 3i and stop-lug 32'. The parts are adapted to be secured by means of ears and screws or other suitable means, as shown in detail in Fig. 4.

The extension 39 functions in case thefoot-is moved too low, whereas, the guide 29 functions when the foot is placed to the side. If the foot is placed toolow,theextensiont'll willbe pushed forward, and will operatethe brake nevertheless, even though the foot would have been placed too low: in. structures heretofore known, and'the car would not'ha vebeen stopped. In such case, the car would have gone on and a crash might have followed. p

I havealso provided a wear and stop plate 33, having a stop or limiting flange 3t. Theplate saves the usualmat from'being worn by the pedal extension so; and the stop-plate a; limits the mQVemel'lt Of the pedal extension 30. upon. the return of the same after the withdrawal of. the foot.

To return the pedal extension, I have provided a spring 35, anchored at one end ina punched-up ring 36, in-the fb'rin shown. At its other end, it bears against the stop-lip 32.

.. It1 wilLbemanifest. that thespring isconstantly urging against the pedal extension, to return it to its normal position.

. .I-n-Eig; .6, I-have-shownafirst modification. In the first modification,- I again us'ethe same brake rod; fioor-boardfire-wall, pedal, pedal cap and pedalbed. I V

In this form, I mount the extension 36a directly on the pedalcap, and the extension is in one piece. The extension-is similar inishape to the extension 3.9, and is pivotallyattachedto 'the pedal cap by means of a screw or other suitable means. i

The screw is 'preferablyshouldered to provide free swinging. In the same way, if: thefoot should placed too low against" the extension 30a, the brakewill nevertheless be operated, asin the first illustration.

In the illustrationshereafter, the same numberl'ng: willbeused, except that there will be additional sufibxed' letters according to th modification. I

In Fig. 6, thereis also a spring 35a, for returning the extension. The spring is fixed at the lower-rend by rivets or other suitablemeans 36a.

The upper end merely bears against extensions 28a, said extensions being integral in the form-shown.

The spring is tapered from the bottom to the top, and is curved, as shownin Fig. 6.

In Fig. 6, an additional difference is'that in addition to having a plate 33a with a stop 34a, there is a rise 31a. This rise may be bent or punched up; or welded on, or arranged in some other suitable'manne'r.

It will be understood that the rise 31w, such 4 as shown in Fig. 6, should be placed on both sides of the plate 33a.

In this form, when the foot is placed upon the extension 39a, the rise 31a will limit the movement of the lower end of the extension 30a in the initial phase of the movement. The spring 35a, in this construction, may be omitted, since the construction will operate satisfactorily withoutit. 1

In theform shown in=Fig. 11,--theri's a rigid extension 38b. This form is also economical to manufacture and easy to apply to a car.

There isipreferably also a floor plate 33b with an upward extension 34b to close the gap between the fioor and the pedal extension. Extension 3% is provided with flanges and a cross plate, as shown in'Fig. 1 at 26.

In the form shown in Fig. 12, there is an adjustable extension 3B0, which is pivotally secured to the pedal cap, as described in previous forms.

The adjustable extension comprises an upper extension 380 and a lower extension 390. The upper extension fits within the lower one. Th extensions are adjustably arranged by means of screw openings Mic in the lower one of theforni shown and slots llc-in the upper extension.

'By means of nuts functioning with these screws, the extensions may be properly secured together, as shown in detail in Fig. 14. w t

On the lower extension, are cars 42c, having openings for the axles 430, for carrying wheels 4.40., which eliminate the use of wear-plates, as shown in previous forms; however, a stop my be employed to limit outward swinging, if desired.

Also, in this form, the pedal cap isprovided with holes, to accommodate a bolt 45o, for. sup.- porting an upper end of a spring 35c. Thelower end of the spring maybe anchored by welding or other-wise.

Asin the previous case, the spring bears, to

return the extension to its normal position after it has served its function.

While I have illustrated anddescribedthe preferred form ofconstruction for carryingmy invention into eifect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do notwish to bev limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variation and modifications as come within the-scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention; what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a device of the kind described, anzextension for a pedal of a vehicle, so that in 'case the. foot. should slip off the pedal and strike. the extension, the pedal will nevertheless be Opel;- ated, said extension being pivoted at its upward end to the pedal, and free at its lower end, and a spring for maintaining said extension in a desired position with respect to said pedal and returning said pedalextension to said position upon release of actuating pressure from said pedal or extension.

2.,In a device of the kind described, an extensionfor a pedal of a vehicle so that in case the foot should slip off the pedal and strike the extension the pedal will neverthel'essbe operated, said extension being pivoted at'its upward end to the-pedal, and free at its lower end, a spring for urging. said pedal extension into a d9?- sired position relative tosa-idipedal', andaliniiting element for limiting the movement of the Number Name Date lower end of the extension. 1,406,402 May Feb. 14, 1922 VAIERIUS POMERNACKI. 1,487,385 I-Ioy Mar. 18, 1924 1,516,862 Loury Nov. 25, 1924 REFERENCES @ITED 5 1,755,002 Hibbets Apr. 15, 1930 The following references are of record. in the 2,063,962 Sanford Jan 26, 1937 file of t t t; 2,088,182 VerCh July 27, 1937 m 2,217,233 Pomernacki Oct. 8, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENJLS 2,225,423 Pomernacki Dec. 17, 1940 Number Name Date 10 2,395,280 Law Feb. 19, 1946 1,213,826 Bloom Jan. 30, 1917 

